KidWatch › Channel Safety › MakeSomething
A genuinely wholesome maker channel that's great for curious older kids, though some projects involve tools and heat that warrant a heads-up.
Best for ages 13+
MakeSomething is run by a guy named David who clearly loves building things and wants you to love it too. He covers woodworking, metalworking, crafts, and DIY techniques with a laid-back, enthusiastic vibe that never feels like he's performing for the camera. He's honest about his own failures, which is actually pretty refreshing.
Score Breakdown
KidWatch Assessment
MakeSomething is run by a guy named David who clearly loves building things and wants you to love it too. He covers woodworking, metalworking, crafts, and DIY techniques with a laid-back, enthusiastic vibe that never feels like he's performing for the camera. He's honest about his own failures, which is actually pretty refreshing.
The content leans practical. He teaches real skills, explains the why behind techniques, and doesn't dumb things down. That makes it genuinely educational, but it also means he's regularly working with propane torches, power saws, and chemical emulsions. Nothing reckless, but he's not always stopping to spell out every safety precaution either.
He includes sponsor spots and Patreon plugs, which are clearly labeled and not pushy. The tone stays positive and encouraging throughout. This isn't a channel for little kids, but for a teenager who wants to learn how to actually make things, it's a solid find.
Flagged Moments from Top Videos
The tutorial walks viewers through using a propane torch to heat aluminum tubing to near-melting temperatures. Safety gear like gloves or eye protection is not clearly emphasized before jumping into the technique.
The project is framed as something anyone can try at home with hardware store supplies, with little discussion of fire hazards or proper ventilation when working with an open flame indoors.
The tutorial involves drilling at a drill press and emphasizes precision calibration, but doesn't include reminders about eye protection or safe workholding practices when using power tools.
The process involves mixing and applying photo-sensitive chemical emulsion in a darkroom setup. Handling instructions are practical but gloves and ventilation aren't mentioned when working with the emulsion.
The video includes a mid-content sponsor segment for Squarespace that runs for a noticeable stretch, which is a pattern across the channel and worth knowing about if your kid is watching to learn, not to shop.
What Parents Should Know
Watch a project alongside a teenager before they try to replicate it, especially anything involving heat or open flame.
Point out that David often skips explicit safety reminders, so talk to your kid about always wearing eye protection and gloves when using power tools or torches.
Expect sponsor mentions woven into some videos. They're not aggressive, but they're there, and it's worth a quick conversation about how creators make money.
This channel is best suited for kids who are genuinely curious about making things. A bored kid watching passively might get ideas without absorbing the skill and judgment behind them.
Use the project videos as a jumping-off point. David gives enough detail that a motivated teenager could actually try these builds with a supervising adult, which makes this a decent channel to watch together.
Skip the purely music-driven compilation style videos with younger kids since they show finished project footage with power tools and no explanatory context at all.
Recommended for ages 13+.
Is your child watching MakeSomething?
See exactly what your child watches, every week.
KidWatch monitors your child's actual YouTube watch history and sends you a private weekly safety report. No blocking. No spying. Just awareness.
Start monitoring free →No credit card required · Privacy-first · Cancel anytime